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Canucks First Game 2013 vs. Anaheim Ducks On Jan. 19

Canucks Face
Vancouver Canucks' Daniel Sedin, left, and his twin brother Henrik Sedin, both of Sweden, celebrate Henrik's goal as Los Angeles Kings' Matt Greene, bottom right, looks on during the first period of game 5 of an NHL Western Conference quarterfinal Stanley Cup playoff hockey series in Vancouver, British Columbia on Sunday April 22, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
AP
Vancouver Canucks' Daniel Sedin, left, and his twin brother Henrik Sedin, both of Sweden, celebrate Henrik's goal as Los Angeles Kings' Matt Greene, bottom right, looks on during the first period of game 5 of an NHL Western Conference quarterfinal Stanley Cup playoff hockey series in Vancouver, British Columbia on Sunday April 22, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

The Vancouver Canucks will begin their 2013 campaign against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday Jan. 19. And will welcome Alberta rivals the Oilers and Flames on Sunday and Monday.

There's only one question confronting the Canucks this season: how long will their window of opportunity stay open?

It's been just over a year and a half since the Canucks made their sweetheart run to the Stanley Cup Final, only to be dropped on their heads by the Boston Bruins. They held on to the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular season team the following year, but were promptly dispatched in the first round by the Los Angeles Kings.

A season of change is in the offering for the Vancouver Canucks. Former franchise netminder Roberto Luongo is likely to be traded this year and the team needs another centre to replace Ryan Kesler, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.

They're certainly not the Stanley Cup favourites they used to be, but players such as the Sedin twins, Alex Burrows and starting goaltender Cory Schneider leave plenty to be excited for.

A matchup with the Los Angeles Kings will be a can't-miss affair. So will any bout with perennial enemies the Chicago Blackhawks.

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